Chapter Summaries

After leaving the Swordsmith Village, Haruto arranged for Kanae and Shinobu to meet his pharmacist friend and returned to Mount Sagiri, where he interrupted Genya’s punishing training. The chapter ended with Haruto sensing someone watching from the mountain and running to investigate.

• Haruto told Godogawa he could not ask someone to bear his children only to become his widow, leaving his master ashamed.
• Haruto learned that Daki had killed his ancestors and remained active in Tokyo Prefecture.
• Haruto told Kanae and Shinobu that his exceptionally skilled pharmacist friend in Asakusa would help with wisteria poison.
• Haruto found Genya struggling to hold a log during training and stopped Sabito from pushing him further.
• Haruto sensed a seemingly nonhostile presence watching them from Mount Sagiri and ran toward it.

Sanemi learned that Haruto had become a Hashira and found Genya living safely at Mount Sagiri, but he refused to meet his brother because he believed Genya hated him. Haruto stopped Sanemi as he fled and challenged his assumption that their bond was broken.

• Masachika told Sanemi that his master would train him and identified the white-haired swordsman as Haruto, the Demon Slayer Corps' newest Hashira.
• Sanemi asked where Haruto lived and learned that Haruto was at Mount Sagiri with Genya.
• Sanemi watched Genya train with a peach-haired boy and felt relieved that his brother seemed safe and cared for.
• Haruto noticed Sanemi hiding in the bushes, pursued him, and intercepted him as he tried to flee down the mountain.
• Sanemi refused to see Genya, claiming their bond was broken, and Haruto questioned his reasoning.

Haruto confronted Sanemi about his belief that Genya hated him and learned Sanemi had been pushing his little brother away to keep him safe from demons. Sanemi left without seeing Genya, while Genya was happy to learn his brother had secretly watched over him.

• Haruto asked Sanemi whether Genya had ever said he hated him, and Sanemi admitted he had never asked or heard Genya say so.
• Sanemi revealed he feared Genya would join the Demon Slayer Corps and face demons, and said he wanted his brother to live a peaceful life.
• Haruto told Sanemi that Genya had also witnessed their family's deaths and might follow the path of demon hunting regardless.
• Sanemi declined Haruto's offer to become his Tsuguko and left after asking him not to tell Genya he had visited.
• Haruto told Genya that Sanemi had been watching him, and Genya smiled, glad his brother had come to check on him.

Haruto encountered Tengen Uzui and his three wives battling Lower Rank Four while he patrolled near Mount Sagiri. After Haruto revealed he had killed Byōha, he and Tengen prepared to fight the demon together.

• Genya appeared happier after Sanemi visited Mount Sagiri, and Haruto teased Giyu about never smiling.
• Haruto patrolled his expanded territory as winter brought more demons, then sensed a powerful demon near several farmhouses.
• Tengen Uzui and his wives evacuated civilians while Tengen tried to hold off Lower Rank Four.
• Haruto attacked Lower Rank Four with Star Breathing and cut through her blood-sprout assault.
• Haruto identified himself as the Hashira who killed Byōha, and Tengen enthusiastically invited him to fight together.

Haruto and Tengen Uzui fought Lower Rank Four, whose Blood Demon Arts unleashed a relentless barrage of leaves and fleshy buds. Lower Rank Four escaped by severing her own head, carrying away Tengen’s swords, and Haruto resolved to warn Kagaya Ubuyashiki as Tengen introduced himself.

• Lower Rank Four unleashed Demon Buds, and Haruto protected the others while Tengen Uzui analyzed her attacks with his Score.
• Lower Rank Four attacked Haruto with Evil Potato Apple, but Haruto’s sword nearly broke through her shield and forced her to retreat.
• Haruto struck Lower Rank Four with Starlight Prairie Fire, and Tengen’s completed Score let him warn Haruto of her next attack.
• Lower Rank Four’s Gluttonous Species attack missed, and she severed her own head to escape before Haruto’s technique could destroy her neck.
• Tengen threw his swords at Lower Rank Four’s fleeing head but lost them, while Haruto decided to warn Kagaya Ubuyashiki and increase patrols.
• Tengen introduced himself to Haruto and thanked him for his help.

Haruto met Tengen Uzui after the battle and learned about his ability to analyze an enemy’s weaknesses. In Infinity Castle, Muzan punished Koyuki, replaced her as Lower Rank Four, and ordered the demons to find the person wearing Sunflower Earrings.

• Haruto introduced himself to Tengen Uzui, learned that he had three wives, and heard about his battle-analysis skill.
• Koyuki was summoned to Infinity Castle alongside the Lower Ranks and new demons.
• Muzan killed Kamanué and demoted Koyuki from Lower Rank Four to Lower Rank Six.
• Muzan appointed Mingjing and Nekomata as the new Lower Rank Three and Lower Rank Four.
• Muzan ordered the demons to search for the Blue Spider Lily and the person wearing Sunflower Earrings.

At the Hashira Meeting, Kanae Kocho and Tengen Uzui were promoted to Hashira as the Corps mourned the death of Kamishiro Ryo. Haruto later learned that Genya’s brother was being treated at the Butterfly Mansion and hurried there with Genya and Kanae.

• Haruto met Gyomei Himejima, Kanae Kocho, and Tengen Uzui at Headquarters and learned that Kamishiro Ryo had died, Matsueda had retired, and Rengoku had skipped the meeting.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki welcomed the swordsmen and formally made Kanae Kocho and Tengen Uzui Hashira after each reached fifty demon kills.
• Kagaya told Haruto that his eyesight was worsening, but said he still intended to lead the Corps to defeat Muzan.
• Haruto found Genya and Kanae waiting outside, and Genya revealed that his brother was being treated at the Butterfly Mansion.
• Haruto ran toward the Butterfly Mansion to check on Genya’s brother, calling for Kanae and Genya to hurry after him.

Genya found Sanemi recovering at the Butterfly Mansion, while Haruto discussed Kanae’s determination to help demons with her. Shinobu returned with an oversized cherry tree, and Haruto teased her before planting it in the courtyard.

• Genya found Sanemi and Masachika Kume arguing in the treatment room, then worried that his brother had been hurt again.
• Haruto questioned Kanae’s hope of redeeming demons, but her resolve led him to reconsider his doubts.
• Kanao asked Kanae for help as Shinobu struggled to drag a full-grown cherry tree into the mansion courtyard.
• Shinobu explained that Kanae wanted a tree named Certain Victory to mark the day they defeated Muzan, and Haruto teased her for bringing one so large.
• Shinobu punched Haruto in frustration, and he carried the tree over to plant it.

After lunch at the Butterfly Mansion, Haruto learned that Shinobu had devised her own forms of Flower Breathing and agreed to test them against his sword. Shinobu’s speed and thrusting power surprised him, and her final strike tore his Haori before the spar ended.

• Kanao and Genya offered to help with the dishes, but Haruto and the Kocho sisters sent the children away to play or rest.
• Kanae told Haruto that Tamayo had set aside a dangerous physical-enhancement drug project and was focusing on developing a drug against Muzan.
• Kanae said Shinobu had mastered Flower Breathing and created forms suited to herself, so Haruto asked her to demonstrate.
• Shinobu attacked Haruto with several Insect Breathing forms, and he barely kept up with her speed.
• Shinobu’s Bee Sting Dance narrowly missed Haruto and tore his Haori, leaving her surprised by how fast she was.

Haruto reassured Shinobu that poison suited her fighting style, but news arrived that Giyu and Sabito had encountered Lower Rank Four Nekomata. Giyu killed the demon after Sabito was gravely wounded, leaving Giyu to face the victory and its consequences alone.

• Haruto told Shinobu that a swordsman became strongest by using the Breathing Style and techniques suited to him, easing her worries about relying on poison.
• Cang Kong reported that Giyu had slain Lower Rank Four Nekomata on Mount Kumotori and that Sabito was near death and being brought to the Butterfly Mansion.
• Shinobu and Kanae hurried to prepare medicine for Sabito while Giyu and Sabito continued fighting Nekomata.
• Sabito drew Nekomata's attention so Giyu could attack, but Nekomata evaded Sabito's strike and crushed his chest with its claws and tails.
• Giyu hesitated to take the victory from Sabito, then used Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux, to sever Nekomata's head and sighed beside his fallen friend.

Haruto learned that Lower Rank Four Nekomata had been searching for something on Mount Kumotori and went there, where he found the Kamado family grieving Tanjuro’s death. Seeing young Tanjiro with his mother and siblings left Haruto wondering what would later happen to them.

• Giyu waited outside the Butterfly Mansion, blaming himself for Sabito’s injuries and doubting that his promotion was truly deserved.
• Haruto cleaned and treated Giyu’s wounds, reassured him that Sabito was out of danger, and told him Makomo would soon arrive.
• Giyu told Haruto that Nekomata had seemed eager to leave before he was slain, prompting Haruto to investigate Mount Kumotori.
• Haruto learned in the village that the Kamado family lived on the mountain and that Tanjuro had recently died.
• Haruto reached the Kamado home and saw Tanjiro, Nezuko, Rokuta, their siblings, and their mother grieving for Tanjuro.

Haruto visited the Kamado family to learn about the demons who had fought nearby and discovered that Tanjiro might be a target of Muzan. Tanjiro refused to leave his home, so Haruto left him training notes and money and arranged for a Nichirin Blade to be delivered later.

• Haruto asked Tanjiro about the fight, and Tanjiro said he had smelled a foul-smelling demon fighting two people who smelled of water.
• Haruto learned from the comments that Nekomata had searched for Tanjiro on Muzan's orders and worried that the Kamado family was in danger.
• Haruto offered to take Tanjiro and his family away and train Tanjiro as his Tsuguko, but Tanjiro refused to leave his family and his father's grave.
• Haruto wrote down Star Breathing training and body-conditioning exercises for Tanjiro, then left money for the family.
• Haruto told Cang Kong to remember the location and ordered it to deliver a Nichirin Blade there later.

Haruto learned that Kyojuro had been left critically wounded after the battle and rushed with Shinobu to reach him. He left Sabito recovering at the Butterfly Mansion, while Giyu remained away hunting demons.

• Shinobu told Haruto that Giyu had gone demon hunting and shared her thoughts about Sanemi and Kanae, leading to a misunderstanding about whom Haruto liked.
• Haruto visited the unconscious Sabito, whose condition had improved slightly, and spoke with Makomo, who asked where Giyu was.
• A Kakushi reported that Sanemi had killed Lower Rank One and that Kyojuro was near death from an abdominal wound.
• Haruto ordered Shinobu to bring her medicine box and set out to find Kyojuro, carrying her on his back and using Bright Tears to speed their journey.

Sanemi held the mortally wounded Masachika Kume as Shinobu Kocho and Haruto arrived and began an emergency rescue. Haruto collapsed from exhaustion and was mistakenly carried off by Kakushi, leaving him unable to protest as they took him to the Butterfly Mansion.

• Sanemi comforted Masachika and recalled how Mr. Takanashi had saved him and Genya and inspired him to become a demon slayer.
• Masachika reminded Sanemi of their promise that the second to become a Hashira would treat the first to beef and tofu hot pot.
• Haruto arrived with Shinobu Kocho, who assessed Masachika's critical injuries and began emergency treatment while ordering Haruto to summon the Kakushi.
• Haruto collapsed from overusing his Breathing Style, and the Kakushi mistook his paralysis for a seizure.
• The Kakushi carried Haruto toward the Butterfly Mansion while Shinobu continued treating Masachika, and Haruto silently tried to stop them.

Haruto learned that Giyu had become a Hashira while Sabito received the title of Half-Hashira, then traveled to Asakusa to hear about Tamayo’s new Dream Thief Drug. Tamayo explained that the drug could trap humans or demons in buried memories, though its usefulness in combat depended on the target’s cooperation.

• Sabito told Haruto that Headquarters had made Giyu a Hashira and appointed Sabito a Half-Hashira.
• Cang Kong delivered Tamayo’s invitation for Haruto to test the drug she had developed.
• Haruto went to Tamayo’s residence in Asakusa with Genya and saw the incense candle that had inspired the drug’s name.
• Tamayo explained that Dream Thief used Haruto’s blood to induce vivid memories and could affect both humans and demons.
• Tamayo described how the drug revisited her memories of being human and warned that demons could pass through memories quickly unless they willingly opened their minds.

Haruto took Tamayo’s medicine and entered a vivid memory of his life as a university student in China in 2019, realizing it was a memory when a butterfly reminded him of Kanae and Shinobu. After waking, he understood that the manga panel he had seen described a future in which nearly all the Hashira and the Ubuyashiki family were dead, leaving him shaken.

• Tamayo explained that Haruto needed a mental anchor before taking her medicine, and Haruto drank it and fell asleep.
• Haruto awoke in a 2019 university dorm, where his roommates discussed Demon Slayer and the deaths of the Hashira after the battle at Infinity Castle.
• A butterfly bearing the pattern of Kanae’s and Shinobu’s haori made Haruto recognize that he was inside a memory.
• Haruto’s memory ended, and he awoke after an hour and a half to tell Tamayo that the experience had felt real.
• Haruto recalled a manga panel showing Kiriya, Hinaki, and Nikka facing Giyu and Sanemi, and realized that Kagaya, Amane, their daughters, and almost all the Hashira had likely died.

Haruto realized that the prophecy he remembered did not dictate the characters’ futures because he had already changed the original story by saving people and becoming a Hashira. He offered to serve as Tamayo’s test subject if she continued researching her Demonization Potion.

• Haruto asked Genya and Yushiro to leave so he could speak privately with Tamayo.
• Haruto told Tamayo that a prophecy said everyone would die and asked how he could become stronger.
• Haruto realized he himself was a major variable who had already changed the story by saving Sabito and Masachika Kume.
• Tamayo explained that she had abandoned her Demonization Potion research after her test subjects died or became berserk.
• Haruto offered to be Tamayo’s test subject if she resumed developing the potion.

Haruto brought Genya to Mount Kumotori to test whether Tanjiro had been training, but Genya mistook Nezuko for an obstacle and provoked Tanjiro into attacking. The chapter ended with Tanjiro launching a headbutt at Genya while his siblings clung to him.

• Genya brought Haruto Fresh Meat Pepper Buns and Hagi Mochi, then went with him to Mount Kumotori to meet Tanjiro.
• Haruto told Genya to imitate Sanemi and scare Tanjiro into showing his strength.
• Genya confronted Nezuko at the Kamado house and demanded that she bring Tanjiro out to fight.
• Tanjiro returned from selling charcoal, saw Genya shouting at Nezuko, and charged at him to protect his family.
• Genya dodged Tanjiro's charge and struck his back, then the Kamado children swarmed Genya as Tanjiro sprang up and launched a headbutt.

Haruto and Genya visited Tanjiro, where Genya tested Tanjiro's fighting skills and Haruto encouraged him to train harder. Tanjiro accepted Haruto's money to help his family and resolved to practice, while Haruto and Genya left together.

• Tanjiro apologized for colliding with Genya, and Haruto treated the bump on Genya's forehead.
• Genya fought Tanjiro while Haruto and the children watched, and Genya easily defeated him without using much strength.
• Haruto gave Nezuko ointment for Tanjiro's aching arms and offered Tanjiro money for his recovery and his family's needs.
• Haruto urged Tanjiro to make time for swordsmanship and Breathing Style practice and warned that he would return for surprise tests.
• Tanjiro accepted the money, resolved to train harder, and watched Haruto and Genya leave the mountain.
• Haruto praised Genya's kindness on the walk down, and Genya agreed that he would not have beaten Tanjiro more harshly.

Haruto brought a Browning loaded with wisteria-poison bullets to Headquarters for his first Hashira Meeting alongside Sabito and Giyu. As Kagaya Ubuyashiki arrived, Sanemi refused to kneel, drawing the attention of the Hashira while Haruto watched with interest.

• Haruto prepared a Browning and wisteria-poison bullets, then set out for Headquarters with Sabito and Giyu.
• Haruto, Sabito, Giyu, and Sanemi met Kanae and talked about food before the Hashira Meeting.
• Gyomei Himejima and Tengen Uzui arrived, and Uzui praised Sabito's flamboyant appearance while teasing Giyu about being single.
• Hinaki and Nikka announced Kagaya Ubuyashiki's arrival, and the courtyard fell silent.
• Sanemi remembered Kyojuro's injuries and loss of his place among the swordsmen, then refused to kneel before Kagaya.
• The other Hashira turned toward Sanemi, while Haruto watched him with keen interest.